Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-02

As mas Deen ALREADY lno1cated, the openers must
be persons Of character for the reason that great
many letters contain money. When money ia
found in the letters or, indeed any ipclosure the
openers are required TO make in a book provided
10r the purpose an entry OF the amount OF money
found and the character OF the Enclosure OF what
ever kind This record passes into the hands or
other clerks, constituting system of checks
WI en- experience has shown to be necessary, and
IL Is believed that there is no loss through dishOn
esty OF the employees. The system has been the
growth OF years, and In the few cases that have
occurred In the past OF dishonesty on the part of
employees, The weak points In the system have
been brought TO light and remedied 1t is sur
prising to learn how much money is yearly in
trusted 10 the mails, and although the number OF
such letters that find their way the Dead-Letter
ONCE Is probably only a small proportion of the
entire number mailed, yet last year there was re-
ceive1 at the oflice S3I 600 In letters. The
invention OF such devices as the money order
with the cheap fees and the still more modern de.
vice OF the postal note, were designed for the DUR
pose OF avoiding the risk which letters containing
money are subjected to; yet, In spite OF these de-
money into the envesobe pnd s Trust sup p tne eF
that their letter. with its contents will escape all
the perks OF the way. The registered letter Is sti
is true that the number OF letters Containing
money has oeeD reduced by these devices still pe0
the advantages offered. OF the x3l 600 received
last year In letters over ST. COO was restored to
owners, nearly g 600 remained In the hands OF
could not De restored and was placed in the u s.
treasury, where IT remains for period OF four
years, SuuJcct 10 De reclaimed Dy the owners.
WORKING OUT PUZZLES.
Perhaps the mos. interesting feature of the work
OF the Office Is the treatment OF letters which are
sent there because OF insufficient or incorrect ad
dresses These letters represent for the most part
the carelessness and the hurry of the American
people. business man in this city, writing let
ter 10 an acquaintance In Philadelphia for exam
PIE, dashes on his signature at the close OF the
ietter ana, while directing the envelope is think
ing OF the next subject that demands hts asten-
ZION, and instead OF writing Philadelphia he Scr1b-
pies on the word "city," as he does hundred
times day, supposng, OF course, that the major
Ivy OF his letters local lie does this the more
readily IL his correspondents address In Philadel
pnia happens 10 De one OF the numbered 81 reefs
Nhen the letter comes To the Dead Letter Office fr
Is handed over TO Lady clerk who has referred to
! ner over thousand OF such letters each Jay. BY
long practice with dealing with such cOnundr1nis
the address Is properly amended and the letter
Is sent on It's way again. some people drop letters
into the Office without any address at all others
write the address so illegibly and with such disr
gard FOR the rules OF photography that no one put
IN expert Is able TO decfpner the meaning Mis-
takes OF all Sinds are made In addressing letters
The wrong state Is given, or else tho wrong town
perhaps both town and State are omitted Some
humorous persons write out the whoIe address IN
rhymed verse, and. like good deal OF more pre-
tentiouS verSe-maktnS, some times 1t Is possible
10 ascertain the authors meaning and then again
the meaning eludeS the most careful STUDY When
IL Is considered that the combined carelessnsss
and ignorance OF the entire country has a daily
and hourly opportunity TO develop an aptitude FOR
D.uncerins, II Is surprising that the PROPORTION of
such letters Is not much larger than iG really Is
But when samples OF this part Of che mail bag